Lasek Miejski nad Olzą Nature Reserve

The Lasek Miejski nad Olzą Nature Reserve is a forest reserve in Cieszyn, established in 1961. It protects a population of the Cieszyn primrose and a natural hornbeam-oak forest with lime, oak, hornbeam, Norway maple, field maple and sycamore.

Where it lies and what grows here

The reserve covers a narrow strip of deciduous forest on the steep right-hand slope of the Olza valley, in the southern part of the city, in Błogocice. It adjoins built-up areas and is therefore strongly affected by human activity. The undergrowth contains rare plants of Alpine origin, and the shrub layer has elder, dogwood, hazel and hawthorns. Parts of the reserve are covered by poor hornbeam-oak forest and submontane elm-ash forest, and directly by the Młynówka a small patch of montane sycamore forest with perennial honesty grows.

The area of the reserve is 4.08 ha, although the establishing act gave 3.23 ha. The area is under strict protection.

Practical information

• Location: Cieszyn, Błogocice district, the right-hand slope of the Olza valley.
• A green walking route around Cieszyn runs through the reserve, so because of the strict protection keep to the marked route.
• Cieszyn has a second forest reserve, Lasek Miejski nad Puncówką.